BEREA -- On the first day of Browns minicamp Tuesday, first-rounder Barkevious Mingo crashed in and batted down a Jason Campbell ball at the line of scrimmage. On the second day, he floated back and deflected a Brian Hoyer pass that was then intercepted.

In his new spot at outside linebacker, the former LSU defensive end is already wreaking plenty of havoc. But the Browns aren’t going to hand him a starting job just because he was the No. 6 overall pick.

He’s currently toiling on the second team at right outside linebacker behind third-year pro Jabaal Sheard, who has had 15½ sacks the past two seasons. Starting on the opposite side is Paul Kruger, the former Baltimore Raven who broke out last season with nine sacks and 4½ more in the playoffs.

Instead of the glass ceiling, Mingo has a wall of muscle to break through in his bid for a starting job — a combined 525 pounds of flesh in Kruger and Sheard.

“Right now, the other two guys are better,” said outside linebackers coach Brian Baker, who has coached some of the best pass rushers in the NFL, including Julius Peppers when he made the Pro Bowl in Carolina. “So, yeah, whether I’m supposed to say it or not.”

“Every place I’ve been, I’ve always played the best guys and played those guys in the best positions. So if Barkevious beats one of those guys out, he’ll be a starter. Until then, they’re the starters.”

Mingo, who had 23½ sacks in his past two seasons, has every intention of starting the opener against Miami on Sept. 8.

“I’m very determined,” Mingo said. “That’s the goal. That should be everybody’s goal. You want to play, you want to help the team win, but you’ve got to put in the work.”

He has already seen firsthand just how tough it will be to crack the top two during the next three months.

“Exactly,” he said. “Those are some big-time guys. It’s a learning curve. I’ve been thrown into a different position. Time will tell what the coaches think.”

But Mingo would rather earn the job than inherit it due to his first-round pedigree.

“You don’t want anything given to you,” he said. “So you earn the respect and put in the work to get what you want.”

Making things even more challenging for Mingo is the fact that Sheard (6-2, 255) has exceeded expectations in his switch from left end to outside linebacker. In fact, the coaches are eager to unleash the beast in the new attacking scheme.

“Jabaal Sheard has been the most pleasant surprise, to me, of all the guys because I kind of knew what the other guys were going to be,” Baker said. “I think Jabaal has a chance to be special. I really do.”

Baker, who has coached numerous pass rushers to Pro Bowl campaigns in his 17 NFL seasons, envisions a possible rotation at outside linebacker. In addition to the big three, he has free-agent pickup Quentin Groves on the second team behind Kruger.

“Quentin is practicing really, really well for us right now,” he said. “All four are what we hoped. It gives us an opportunity — whether it’s matchups, or rotation, or whatever — to work those guys in a way that will be most effective for them and us.”

If the Browns had any doubts about Mingo’s ability to cover, they have been swept away with the spring pollen. On the first day of organized team activities, he skittered back and broke up a pass to tight end Kellen Davis.

“I didn’t have a feel for his spatial awareness,” Baker said. “But he’s made as many plays in coverage as he had batting balls, pass rush, that kind of stuff. That’s been a pleasant surprise.”

Baker is convinced that Mingo’s high school basketball prowess has eased his transition.

“Really good basketball players are aware of switches and changes as the court shrinks, or as the court opens up,” Baker said. “That’s why he’s so comfortable in space.”

Even Mingo (6-4, 237) has been surprised at how natural his new position feels.

“At the beginning, I thought that would be an area of concern, but I’m adjusting to it quickly and I’m just ready to play,” he said.

Did he share a chuckle with Campbell after that initial batted ball Tuesday?

“No, they dont like that,” Mingo said. “You make ’em mad. You don’t get a laugh for that.”

His secret to the swat?

“Just vision on the quarterback, just watching his eyes when he’s getting ready to release the ball and timing it up perfectly,” said Mingo, who was a shot blocker on the court. “It’s always been something we focused on at LSU. Getting your hands up on those quick drops and knocking the ball down.”

Mingo has also learned plenty from the two guys ahead of him on the depth chart.

“They’ve been doing it for years — Paul, especially,” Mingo said. “He just won a Super Bowl. He’s helped a lot this year with all the rookies — not just me.”

Fellow linebacker D’Qwell Jackson has watched Mingo from the sidelines as he explodes off the ball and covers tight ends and backs.

“It looks so effortless with him rushing off the edge,” Jackson said. “Coach Baker has done a tremendous job of working with his hands and getting guys off him. That’s going to be key for him. He’s not a heavy guy, so he has to be extremely good with his hands, and coach Baker is working him tirelessly with hand placement and getting around guys. The sky is the limit for him. I’m excited for him.”

Both Mingo and Baker downplayed comparisons to San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Aldon Smith, who’s similar in size (6-4, 258) and registered an astonishing 33½ sacks in his first two seasons after being taken No. 7 overall in 2011. Baker isn’t about to put that pressure on Mingo, and Mingo isn’t making any predictions.

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